House of Commons Library briefing on NHS charges.
NHS Charges (715 KB , PDF)
The National Health Service Act 1946, which set up the NHS in England and Wales, contained a provision that NHS services should be provided free of charge unless that Act expressly provided for a charge. This provision has been carried forward into the legislation which replaced the 1946 Act – the NHS Act 1977, and subsequently the NHS Act 2006.
Since the founding of the NHS, amendments have been made to allow charges for NHS services including prescription, dental and optical charges.
This briefing paper sets out the provisions for various NHS charges, which groups are exempt, and explains where charges vary in the devolved nations.
There are separate Library briefings on NHS charges for overseas visitors and NHS hospital car parking charges.
NHS Charges (715 KB , PDF)
A Westminster Hall debate on an e-petition calling on the Government to prohibit employers from requiring staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19 is scheduled for 24 January 2022 between 6-7.30pm . The subject for this debate was determined by the Petitions Committee and Martyn Day MP will open the debate.
This Library Briefing answers frequently asked questions about self-isolation and Test and Trace Support Payments for low-income workers.
There will be a Westminster Hall debate on the 'Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and health inequalities' at 2:30pm on Wednesday 26 January 2022. Peter Dowd MP will open the debate.
